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Greeks face annual electricity bills worth two monthly minimum wages

(EurActiv, 13 Sep 2022) Greek workers are being burdened with yearly electricity prices equivalent of two months of minimum wage, according to figures released by the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC).

Greece, together with Estonia, is the country where workers need the most working days to pay off their annual electricity bills, an ETUC survey found.

But low-paid workers are suffering the most in many EU countries, according to an analysis by the ETUC.

While 9.5 million workers were already struggling to pay energy bills before the cost of living crisis began, the cost of gas and electricity has risen by 38% across Europe compared to last year. 

This means workers earning the minimum wage in 16 EU states must set aside the equivalent of a month’s wages or more to keep the lights and the heating on at home. In 2021, this was the case for eight EU countries.

The number of days a person earning the minimum wage has to work to pay their energy bill has increased dramatically in some countries: Estonia (+26), Netherlands (+20), Czech Republic (+17), and Latvia (+16).

In four countries – Slovakia, Greece, Czech Republic and Italy – the average annual energy bill is also now higher than one month’s wages for a worker earning the average salary.

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EurActiv, 13 Sep 2022: Greeks face annual electricity bills worth two monthly minimum wages